James Sidney Hinton

Hinton was born in 1834 to John Cooper Hinton and Hannah Mitchell Hinton, free people of color in Raleigh, North Carolina. Hinton later attended the Union Literary Institute in Union City, Indiana (known in some sources as the "Greenville Institute" or "Darke County Seminary"). The Institute was located within the Greenville Settlement which straddled the Indiana-Ohio state line. Hiram Revels, also from a free family, who later became a politician and would be elected as the first African-American United States Senator, was among his classmates. In 1859, Hinton was elected Grand Master of the Indiana lodge of the Prince Hall Masons.{{Cite news|title=Black History News & Notes |year=1994|volume=55|page= 12 At the outbreak of the American Civil War in 1861, Hinton sought to enlist in the Union Army in Indiana but was first turned away because of his race. In 1863, the United States opened the Army to African-American volunteers. Hinton enlisted and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He became a recruiting officer for various Union regiments of the US Colored Troops, including the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment and 28th Indiana Infantry Regiment (Colored). ==Move to state capital and marriage==

In 1862, Hinton moved to Indianapolis, where he lived and worked for the rest of his life. He set up a real estate and intelligence office, which he operated from 1862 to 1867. He married Eliza J. Mitchell in 1862 in Indianapolis. ==Political career==

After the Civil War, Hinton became known as a powerful Republican campaigner, speaking in numerous states. His rise in political status was propelled by his strong ties to a community network through the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Masons. In 1872, Hinton was elected as an at-large delegate to the Republican National Convention. He was one of only two African-American delegates there. From 1874 to 1878, Hinton served as a trustee of the Wabash and Erie Canal, becoming Indiana's first African-American holder of statewide office. In 1880, Hinton was elected to represent Marion County in the Indiana State House. He served one term, being defeated in the next Republican primary by Samuel A. Elbert. Elbert was also African American and failed to win the general election. Hinton remained politically active after his defeat. In 1892, after giving a speech in support of the Republican campaign in Brazil, Indiana, Hinton collapsed and died. ==Legacy==

Hinton is buried in the historic Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis. In 2014, a bust of Hinton was unveiled at the Indiana State Capitol, where it stands on the second floor alongside the bust of U.S. Representative Julia Carson as part of a permanent Black history display. Both sculptures are the work of Jon Hair. ==See also==